A search for new physics in central exclusive production using the missing mass technique with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer

A generic search is presented for the associated production of a Z boson or a photon with an additional unspecified massive particle X, $ \mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}\to \mathrm{p}\mathrm{p} +\mathrm{Z}/\gamma+\mathrm{X} $, in proton-tagged events from proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}= $ 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. The missing mass spectrum is analysed in the 600-1600 GeV range and a fit is performed to search for possible deviations from the background expectation. No significant excess in data with respect to the background predictions has been observed. Model-independent upper limits on the visible production cross section of $ \mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}\to \mathrm{p}\mathrm{p} +\mathrm{Z}/\gamma+\mathrm{X} $ are set.